Ron E. Braden
Sports Information Director and Head Golf Coach
This will be Ron’s 13th year as SID for the Thorobreds. The Chapel Hill, Tenn. native is a graduate of Southwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he earned All-City Honors in both football and baseball.
Ron received a B.S. from Tennessee State University in 1972 and a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from Grambling State University in 1977.
Braden also serves as KSU’s Golf Coach and an Instructor in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. Coach Braden’s golf team won the 14th National Minority College Golf Championship in 2000 held at the PGA Golf Club in Port. St. Lucie, Florida.
Before coming to Kentucky State, Ron was a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, he has also held positions in Intercollegiate Athletics as Sports Information Director, Assistant Football/Head Football Coach and Head Baseball Coach at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., Assistant Baseball Coach at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN (1973-76).
During the Continental Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ron was a member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Press Operations Staff. He served as Interview Room and Mixed Zone Manager for the Badminton competition held at Georgia State University.
While attending Tennessee State University, Ron received All-Midwest Conference Honors in Baseball and holds the TSU Baseball record for consecutive runners picked-off a base in a single inning, three (3) against David Lipscomb College. Ron also received the TSU Athletics Department Outstanding Service Award.
As a collegiate head football coach, Ron received SIAC Coach of the Week Honors in 1981 at Fisk University. As a collegiate baseball coach Ron coached two NCAA Champions – Reggie Jackson, Season Strikeout Champ (144 in 84 innings for 15.4 average) at Fisk University in 1981; and Denton Higgins, Triples Champ (10 in 33 games for 0.30 average) at Kentucky State in 1991.
Ron is married to the former Rhonda Faye Buchanan and is the proud father of four children; daughters Yolanda Osborne, Brandy Hines, Courtney, and son Jarrod. He also has four loving grandchildren, Jasmine, Joseph, Jaiden, and Chelsie.